1The Horsemen and the Four Horns
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying,
1In the eighth month of the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo, saying,
2The LORD hath been sore displeased with your fathers.
2"The LORD was very angry with your ancestors.
3Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the LORD of hosts.
3So tell the people, 'This is what the LORD of hosts says: Return to me,' says the LORD of hosts, 'and I will return to you,' says the LORD of hosts.
4Be ye not as your fathers, unto whom the former prophets have cried, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken unto me, saith the LORD.
4"Do not be like your ancestors. The earlier prophets called out to them, 'This is what the LORD of hosts says: Turn now from your evil ways and your evil deeds.' But they would not listen or pay attention to me," says the LORD.
5Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for ever?
5"Your ancestors, where are they now? And the prophets, do they live forever?
6But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers? and they returned and said, Like as the LORD of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us.
6But my words and my decrees, which I gave to my servants the prophets, did they not catch up with your ancestors? Then they turned back and said, 'The LORD of hosts has treated us exactly as he planned to, according to our ways and our deeds.'"
7Upon the four and twentieth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Sebat, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying,
7On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, the month of Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo, saying,
8I saw by night, and behold a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees that were in the bottom; and behind him were there red horses, speckled, and white.
8During the night I had a vision, and there before me was a man riding a red horse. He was standing among the myrtle trees in a hollow, and behind him were red, speckled, and white horses.
9Then said I, O my lord, what are these? And the angel that talked with me said unto me, I will shew thee what these be.
9Then I asked, "My lord, what are these?" And the angel who was talking with me said, "I will show you what they are."
10And the man that stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, These are they whom the LORD hath sent to walk to and fro through the earth.
10The man standing among the myrtle trees answered, "These are the ones the LORD has sent to travel back and forth across the earth."
11And they answered the angel of the LORD that stood among the myrtle trees, and said, We have walked to and fro through the earth, and, behold, all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest.
11Then they reported to the angel of the LORD who stood among the myrtle trees, "We have traveled back and forth across the earth, and we found the whole earth sitting quiet and at rest."
12Then the angel of the LORD answered and said, O LORD of hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten years?
12Then the angel of the LORD said, "O LORD of hosts, how long will you withhold your mercy from Jerusalem and the cities of Judah? You have been angry with them for these seventy years."
13And the LORD answered the angel that talked with me with good words and comfortable words.
13And the LORD answered the angel who was talking with me with good and comforting words.
14So the angel that communed with me said unto me, Cry thou, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy.
14So the angel who was talking with me said to me, "Proclaim this: The LORD of hosts says, 'I care deeply about Jerusalem and Zion, with a great and jealous love.
15And I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease: for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction.
15But I am very angry with the nations that feel so secure. I was only a little angry, but they pushed the trouble further.'
16Therefore thus saith the LORD; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it, saith the LORD of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem.
16"Therefore this is what the LORD says: 'I have returned to Jerusalem with mercy. My house will be built there,' says the LORD of hosts, 'and a measuring line will be stretched out over Jerusalem.'
17Cry yet, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad; and the LORD shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem.
17"Proclaim this too: The LORD of hosts says, 'My cities will once again overflow with good things. The LORD will again comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem.'"
18Then lifted I up mine eyes, and saw, and behold four horns.
18Then I looked up and saw four horns.
19And I said unto the angel that talked with me, What be these? And he answered me, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.
19I asked the angel who was talking with me, "What are these?" He answered, "These are the horns that scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem."
20And the LORD shewed me four carpenters.
20Then the LORD showed me four craftsmen.
21Then said I, What come these to do? And he spake, saying, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his head: but these are come to fray them, to cast out the horns of the Gentiles, which lifted up their horn over the land of Judah to scatter it.
21I asked, "What have these come to do?" He said, "Those are the horns that scattered Judah so badly that no one could lift his head. But these craftsmen have come to terrify them and to throw down the horns of the nations that raised their horn against the land of Judah to scatter its people."
2The Man with the Measuring Line
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand.
1Then I looked up again, and there before me was a man holding a measuring line.
2Then said I, Whither goest thou? And he said unto me, To measure Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof.
2I asked, "Where are you going?" He said to me, "To measure Jerusalem, to find out how wide and how long it is."
3And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him,
3Then the angel who was talking with me stepped forward, and another angel came out to meet him
4And said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein:
4and said to him, "Run and tell that young man, 'Jerusalem will be lived in like a town with no walls, because of the great number of people and animals in it.
5For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.
5For I myself,' says the LORD, 'will be a wall of fire all around her, and I will be the glory within her.'
6Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the north, saith the LORD: for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heaven, saith the LORD.
6"Come on, come on! Run from the land of the north," says the LORD, "for I scattered you to the four winds of heaven," says the LORD.
7Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon.
7"Escape, O Zion, you who live with the daughter of Babylon!"
8For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.
8For this is what the LORD of hosts says: "For the sake of his glory he has sent me against the nations that plundered you, for whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye.
9For, behold, I will shake mine hand upon them, and they shall be a spoil to their servants: and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me.
9Watch: I will raise my hand against them, and they will become plunder for their own slaves. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent me.
10Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD.
10"Sing and be glad, O daughter of Zion! For see, I am coming, and I will live among you," says the LORD.
11And many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto thee.
11"In that day many nations will join themselves to the LORD and become my people, and I will live among you. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you.
12And the LORD shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again.
12The LORD will take Judah as his own share in the holy land, and he will choose Jerusalem once again.
13Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation.
13Be silent before the LORD, everyone on earth, for he has risen up from his holy dwelling."
3Joshua the High Priest Cleansed
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.
1Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, with Satan standing at his right side to accuse him.
2And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?
2The LORD said to Satan, "The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this man not a burning stick snatched out of the fire?"
3Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel.
3Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel.
4And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.
4The angel said to those standing in front of him, "Take those filthy clothes off him." Then he said to Joshua, "See, I have taken your guilt away from you, and I will dress you in fine new clothes."
5And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD stood by.
5Then I said, "Let them put a clean turban on his head." So they put a clean turban on his head and dressed him in clothes, while the angel of the LORD stood by.
6And the angel of the LORD protested unto Joshua, saying,
6Then the angel of the LORD solemnly charged Joshua:
7Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou shalt also judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by.
7"This is what the LORD of hosts says: If you walk in my ways and keep the duties I give you, then you will govern my house and take charge of my courts, and I will give you a place to walk among these who stand here.
8Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH.
8Listen now, Joshua the high priest, you and your companions who sit before you, for these men are a sign of things to come. See, I am going to bring my servant, the BRANCH.
9For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.
9Look at the stone I have set in front of Joshua. On that one stone are seven eyes. I will carve an inscription on it," says the LORD of hosts, "and I will remove the guilt of this land in a single day.
10In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbour under the vine and under the fig tree.
10In that day," says the LORD of hosts, "each of you will invite his neighbor to sit under his vine and under his fig tree."
4The Lampstand and the Olive Trees
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep,
1Then the angel who was talking with me came back and woke me, like someone being roused from sleep.
2And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof:
2He asked me, "What do you see?" I said, "I see a lampstand made entirely of gold, with a bowl on top of it and seven lamps on it, and seven pipes going to the seven lamps on top.
3And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.
3Beside it are two olive trees, one on the right side of the bowl and the other on its left."
4So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord?
4Then I asked the angel who was talking with me, "What are these, my lord?"
5Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.
5The angel who was talking with me answered, "Don't you know what these are?" I said, "No, my lord."
6Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.
6Then he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by strength and not by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts.
7Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.
7What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. He will bring out the capstone while the people shout, 'Grace, grace to it!'"
8Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
8Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
9The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you.
9"The hands of Zerubbabel laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will finish it. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you.
10For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.
10Who dares to look down on the day of small beginnings? People will rejoice when they see the plumb line in Zerubbabel's hand. These seven are the eyes of the LORD, which travel back and forth across the whole earth."
11Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof?
11Then I asked him, "What are these two olive trees on the right and left of the lampstand?"
12And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves?
12I asked him a second time, "What are these two olive branches beside the two golden pipes that pour out golden oil?"
13And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.
13He replied, "Don't you know what these are?" I said, "No, my lord."
14Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the LORD of the whole earth.
14Then he said, "These are the two anointed ones who stand beside the LORD of the whole earth."
5The Flying Scroll and the Ephah
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1Then I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a flying roll.
1Then I turned and looked up again, and there before me was a flying scroll.
2And he said unto me, What seest thou? And I answered, I see a flying roll; the length thereof is twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof ten cubits.
2He asked me, "What do you see?" I answered, "I see a flying scroll. It is twenty cubits long and ten cubits wide."
3Then said he unto me, This is the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth: for every one that stealeth shall be cut off as on this side according to it; and every one that sweareth shall be cut off as on that side according to it.
3Then he said to me, "This is the curse that is going out over the face of the whole earth. According to what is written on one side, every thief will be swept away, and according to what is written on the other side, everyone who swears falsely will be swept away.
4I will bring it forth, saith the LORD of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name: and it shall remain in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof.
4I will send it out," says the LORD of hosts, "and it will enter the house of the thief and the house of anyone who swears falsely by my name. It will stay inside that house and destroy it, timbers and stones and all."
5Then the angel that talked with me went forth, and said unto me, Lift up now thine eyes, and see what is this that goeth forth.
5Then the angel who was talking with me came forward and said, "Look up and see what is coming out now."
6And I said, What is it? And he said, This is an ephah that goeth forth. He said moreover, This is their resemblance through all the earth.
6I asked, "What is it?" He said, "It is a measuring basket going out." Then he added, "This is what they look like throughout the whole earth."
7And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this is a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah.
7Then a heavy lead cover was lifted, and there was a woman sitting inside the basket.
8And he said, This is wickedness. And he cast it into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof.
8He said, "This is Wickedness." And he pushed her back down into the basket and slammed the lead weight over its opening.
9Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came out two women, and the wind was in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork: and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven.
9Then I looked up again and saw two women coming out with the wind in their wings, for they had wings like a stork's wings. They lifted the basket up between earth and sky.
10Then said I to the angel that talked with me, Whither do these bear the ephah?
10I asked the angel who was talking with me, "Where are they taking the basket?"
11And he said unto me, To build it an house in the land of Shinar: and it shall be established, and set there upon her own base.
11He answered, "To build a house for it in the land of Shinar. When the house is ready, the basket will be set there on its own base."
6The Four Chariots and the Crowning
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1And I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came four chariots out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of brass.
1I turned and looked up again, and there before me were four chariots coming out from between two mountains, and the mountains were made of bronze.
2In the first chariot were red horses; and in the second chariot black horses;
2The first chariot had red horses, the second had black horses,
3And in the third chariot white horses; and in the fourth chariot grisled and bay horses.
3the third had white horses, and the fourth had dappled and bay horses.
4Then I answered and said unto the angel that talked with me, What are these, my lord?
4Then I asked the angel who was talking with me, "What are these, my lord?"
5And the angel answered and said unto me, These are the four spirits of the heavens, which go forth from standing before the LORD of all the earth.
5The angel answered me, "These are the four spirits of heaven, going out after standing before the LORD of all the earth.
6The black horses which are therein go forth into the north country; and the white go forth after them; and the grisled go forth toward the south country.
6The chariot with the black horses is heading for the land of the north, the white horses are going after them, and the dappled horses are heading for the land of the south."
7And the bay went forth, and sought to go that they might walk to and fro through the earth: and he said, Get you hence, walk to and fro through the earth. So they walked to and fro through the earth.
7The bay horses came out, eager to go and patrol the earth. He said, "Go on, patrol the earth." So they patrolled the earth.
8Then cried he upon me, and spake unto me, saying, Behold, these that go toward the north country have quieted my spirit in the north country.
8Then he called out to me, "Look, the ones going toward the land of the north have set my spirit at rest in the land of the north."
9And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
9The word of the LORD came to me, saying,
10Take of them of the captivity, even of Heldai, of Tobijah, and of Jedaiah, which are come from Babylon, and come thou the same day, and go into the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah;
10"Take a gift from the exiles Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, who have arrived from Babylon. Go that same day to the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah.
11Then take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them upon the head of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest;
11Take the silver and gold, make crowns, and set them on the head of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest.
12And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD:
12Tell him, 'This is what the LORD of hosts says: Here is the man whose name is The BRANCH. He will branch out from where he is and build the temple of the LORD.
13Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.
13Yes, he is the one who will build the temple of the LORD. He will be clothed with majesty and will sit and rule on his throne. He will also be a priest on his throne, and there will be peaceful agreement between the two.'
14And the crowns shall be to Helem, and to Tobijah, and to Jedaiah, and to Hen the son of Zephaniah, for a memorial in the temple of the LORD.
14The crowns will be kept in the temple of the LORD as a memorial to Helem, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Hen the son of Zephaniah.
15And they that are far off shall come and build in the temple of the LORD, and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you. And this shall come to pass, if ye will diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God.
15People far away will come and help build the temple of the LORD, and you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. This will happen if you carefully obey the voice of the LORD your God."
7A Question About Fasting
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Darius, that the word of the LORD came unto Zechariah in the fourth day of the ninth month, even in Chisleu;
1In the fourth year of King Darius, the word of the LORD came to Zechariah on the fourth day of the ninth month, the month of Kislev.
2When they had sent unto the house of God Sherezer and Regemmelech, and their men, to pray before the LORD,
2The people had sent Sharezer and Regem-melech, with their men, to the house of God to pray before the LORD
3And to speak unto the priests which were in the house of the LORD of hosts, and to the prophets, saying, Should I weep in the fifth month, separating myself, as I have done these so many years?
3and to put a question to the priests of the house of the LORD of hosts and to the prophets: "Should I keep weeping in the fifth month, setting myself apart, as I have done for so many years?"
4Then came the word of the LORD of hosts unto me, saying,
4Then the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying,
5Speak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month, even those seventy years, did ye at all fast unto me, even to me?
5"Say to all the people of the land and to the priests, 'When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months during these seventy years, was it really for me that you fasted?
6And when ye did eat, and when ye did drink, did not ye eat for yourselves, and drink for yourselves?
6And when you ate and drank, were you not eating and drinking just for yourselves?
7Should ye not hear the words which the LORD hath cried by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity, and the cities thereof round about her, when men inhabited the south and the plain?
7Aren't these the very words the LORD proclaimed through the earlier prophets, back when Jerusalem and the towns around it were settled and prosperous, and people lived in the south and the lowlands?'"
8And the word of the LORD came unto Zechariah, saying,
8The word of the LORD came to Zechariah, saying,
9Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother:
9"This is what the LORD of hosts says: Judge fairly and honestly, and show mercy and kindness to one another.
10And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.
10Do not mistreat the widow, the orphan, the foreigner, or the poor, and do not plot evil against one another in your hearts.
11But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear.
11But they refused to listen. They turned a stubborn shoulder and plugged their ears so they would not hear.
12Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts.
12They made their hearts as hard as flint so they would not hear the law and the words the LORD of hosts had sent by his Spirit through the earlier prophets. So great anger came from the LORD of hosts.
13Therefore it is come to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the LORD of hosts:
13"And so it happened that just as he called and they would not listen, they called and I would not listen," says the LORD of hosts.
14But I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations whom they knew not. Thus the land was desolate after them, that no man passed through nor returned: for they laid the pleasant land desolate.
14"I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations they had never known. The land was left desolate behind them, with no one coming or going, for they had turned the pleasant land into a wasteland."
8God Returns to Zion
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1Again the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying,
1Again the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying,
2Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury.
2"This is what the LORD of hosts says: I am jealous for Zion with a great jealousy, and my jealousy for her burns with great fury.
3Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain.
3This is what the LORD says: I have returned to Zion and will live in the middle of Jerusalem. Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth, and the mountain of the LORD of hosts will be called the Holy Mountain.
4Thus saith the LORD of hosts; There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for very age.
4This is what the LORD of hosts says: Once again old men and old women will sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with a walking stick in hand because of their great age.
5And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof.
5And the streets of the city will be full of boys and girls playing there.
6Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If it be marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvellous in mine eyes? saith the LORD of hosts.
6This is what the LORD of hosts says: If it seems too amazing to what is left of this people in those days, should it seem too amazing to me? says the LORD of hosts.
7Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country;
7This is what the LORD of hosts says: See, I will rescue my people from the land of the east and the land of the west.
8And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness.
8I will bring them back to live in the heart of Jerusalem. They will be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness.
9Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Let your hands be strong, ye that hear in these days these words by the mouth of the prophets, which were in the day that the foundation of the house of the LORD of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built.
9This is what the LORD of hosts says: Let your hands be strong, you who are hearing these words today from the mouths of the prophets who spoke when the foundation of the house of the LORD of hosts was laid, so that the temple might be built.
10For before these days there was no hire for man, nor any hire for beast; neither was there any peace to him that went out or came in because of the affliction: for I set all men every one against his neighbour.
10Before that time there were no wages for people and no pay for animals, and no one could come or go in safety because of the enemy, for I had turned everyone against his neighbor.
11But now I will not be unto the residue of this people as in the former days, saith the LORD of hosts.
11But now I will not treat what is left of this people as I did in earlier days," says the LORD of hosts.
12For the seed shall be prosperous; the vine shall give her fruit, and the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things.
12"For the seed will grow well, the vine will give its fruit, the ground will give its crops, and the skies will give their dew. I will give all these things to the survivors of this people as their inheritance.
13And it shall come to pass, that as ye were a curse among the heathen, O house of Judah, and house of Israel; so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing: fear not, but let your hands be strong.
13Just as you were a curse among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so I will save you, and you will be a blessing. Do not be afraid; let your hands be strong.
14For thus saith the LORD of hosts; As I thought to punish you, when your fathers provoked me to wrath, saith the LORD of hosts, and I repented not:
14For this is what the LORD of hosts says: Just as I planned to punish you when your ancestors made me angry," says the LORD of hosts, "and I did not relent,
15So again have I thought in these days to do well unto Jerusalem and to the house of Judah: fear ye not.
15so now I have planned to do good to Jerusalem and the house of Judah. Do not be afraid.
16These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates:
16These are the things you must do: Speak the truth to one another; in your courts, give judgments that are true and that make for peace.
17And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD.
17Do not plot evil against one another in your hearts, and do not love swearing false oaths, for I hate all these things," says the LORD.
18And the word of the LORD of hosts came unto me, saying,
18The word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying,
19Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, shall be to the house of Judah joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts; therefore love the truth and peace.
19"This is what the LORD of hosts says: The fasts of the fourth, fifth, seventh, and tenth months will become times of joy and gladness for the house of Judah, happy festivals. So love truth and peace.
20Thus saith the LORD of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities:
20This is what the LORD of hosts says: The time is still coming when peoples will arrive, and the residents of many cities.
21And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts: I will go also.
21The residents of one city will go to another and say, 'Let's go right away to pray before the LORD and to seek the LORD of hosts. I am going too.'
22Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD.
22Many peoples and powerful nations will come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem and to pray before the LORD.
23Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.
23This is what the LORD of hosts says: In those days ten men from nations of every language will grab hold of the robe of a Jew and say, 'Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.'"
9Judgment on the Nations and the Coming King
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1The burden of the word of the LORD in the land of Hadrach, and Damascus shall be the rest thereof: when the eyes of man, as of all the tribes of Israel, shall be toward the LORD.
1This is the heavy message of the LORD's word against the land of Hadrach, and it comes to rest on Damascus, for the eyes of all people, like the eyes of all the tribes of Israel, are turned toward the LORD.
2And Hamath also shall border thereby; Tyrus, and Zidon, though it be very wise.
2Hamath, which borders it, is included too, and so are Tyre and Sidon, clever as they are.
3And Tyrus did build herself a strong hold, and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets.
3Tyre built herself a fortress and piled up silver like dust and fine gold like the mud in the streets.
4Behold, the LORD will cast her out, and he will smite her power in the sea; and she shall be devoured with fire.
4But watch: the Lord will throw her out. He will strike down her power on the sea, and she will be swallowed up by fire.
5Ashkelon shall see it, and fear; Gaza also shall see it, and be very sorrowful, and Ekron; for her expectation shall be ashamed; and the king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited.
5Ashkelon will see it and be afraid; Gaza will see it and writhe in pain, and so will Ekron, for what she hoped for will end in shame. The king will vanish from Gaza, and no one will live in Ashkelon any more.
6And a bastard shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.
6People of mixed blood will settle in Ashdod, and I will cut down the pride of the Philistines.
7And I will take away his blood out of his mouth, and his abominations from between his teeth: but he that remaineth, even he, shall be for our God, and he shall be as a governor in Judah, and Ekron as a Jebusite.
7I will take the blood out of his mouth and the detestable food from between his teeth. Whoever is left will belong to our God; he will be like a clan leader in Judah, and Ekron will be like a Jebusite.
8And I will encamp about mine house because of the army, because of him that passeth by, and because of him that returneth: and no oppressor shall pass through them any more: for now have I seen with mine eyes.
8I will camp around my house to guard it from any army, from anyone marching through or marching back. No oppressor will pass through them again, for now I have seen it with my own eyes.
9Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.
9Rejoice with all your heart, daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, daughter of Jerusalem! Look, your King is coming to you. He is righteous and brings salvation; he is humble, and he rides on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
10And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth.
10I will remove the chariots from Ephraim and the war horses from Jerusalem, and the battle bow will be broken. He will speak peace to the nations, and his rule will stretch from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.
11As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water.
11As for you, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I have set your prisoners free from the pit that has no water in it.
12Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee;
12Come back to your fortress, you prisoners who still have hope. This very day I declare that I will give you back double.
13When I have bent Judah for me, filled the bow with Ephraim, and raised up thy sons, O Zion, against thy sons, O Greece, and made thee as the sword of a mighty man.
13For I have bent Judah as my bow and set Ephraim in it as my arrow. I will stir up your sons, Zion, against your sons, Greece, and make you like a warrior's sword.
14And the LORD shall be seen over them, and his arrow shall go forth as the lightning: and the LORD God shall blow the trumpet, and shall go with whirlwinds of the south.
14Then the LORD will appear over them, and his arrow will flash out like lightning. The LORD God will sound the trumpet and march out in the whirlwinds of the south.
15The LORD of hosts shall defend them; and they shall devour, and subdue with sling stones; and they shall drink, and make a noise as through wine; and they shall be filled like bowls, and as the corners of the altar.
15The LORD of hosts will shield them. They will devour and trample down the sling stones; they will drink and roar as if full of wine, and they will be filled like the bowls at the altar, like the corners of the altar itself.
16And the LORD their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people: for they shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land.
16On that day the LORD their God will save them as the flock of his people, for they will be like the jewels of a crown, raised high like a banner over his land.
17For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty! corn shall make the young men cheerful, and new wine the maids.
17How great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty! Grain will make the young men thrive, and new wine the young women.
10Rain, Shepherds, and the Scattered Brought Home
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1Ask ye of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain; so the LORD shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field.
1Ask the LORD for rain in the season of the spring rains. It is the LORD who makes the storm clouds, and he will give everyone showers of rain and grass in the field.
2For the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams; they comfort in vain: therefore they went their way as a flock, they were troubled, because there was no shepherd.
2For the idols talk nonsense, and the fortune-tellers see lies and tell false dreams; their comfort is worthless. So the people wander off like sheep, in trouble because they have no shepherd.
3Mine anger was kindled against the shepherds, and I punished the goats: for the LORD of hosts hath visited his flock the house of Judah, and hath made them as his goodly horse in the battle.
3"My anger burns against the shepherds, and I will punish the leaders, those goats. For the LORD of hosts has come to care for his flock, the house of Judah, and he will make them like his proud warhorse in battle.
4Out of him came forth the corner, out of him the nail, out of him the battle bow, out of him every oppressor together.
4From Judah will come the cornerstone, from him the tent peg, from him the battle bow, from him every ruler who drives others hard, all together.
5And they shall be as mighty men, which tread down their enemies in the mire of the streets in the battle: and they shall fight, because the LORD is with them, and the riders on horses shall be confounded.
5They will be like warriors trampling their enemies into the mud of the streets in battle. They will fight because the LORD is with them, and the enemy horsemen will be thrown into confusion.
6And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them again to place them; for I have mercy upon them: and they shall be as though I had not cast them off: for I am the LORD their God, and will hear them.
6I will strengthen the house of Judah and save the house of Joseph. I will bring them back and settle them, because I have compassion on them, and it will be as though I had never rejected them. For I am the LORD their God, and I will answer them.
7And they of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, and their heart shall rejoice as through wine: yea, their children shall see it, and be glad; their heart shall rejoice in the LORD.
7The people of Ephraim will be like warriors, and their hearts will be glad as if with wine. Their children will see it and rejoice; their hearts will celebrate in the LORD.
8I will hiss for them, and gather them; for I have redeemed them: and they shall increase as they have increased.
8I will whistle for them and gather them in, for I have bought them back, and they will become as many as they once were.
9And I will sow them among the people: and they shall remember me in far countries; and they shall live with their children, and turn again.
9Though I scatter them among the peoples, they will remember me in distant lands; they and their children will live on and come home again.
10I will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt, and gather them out of Assyria; and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon; and place shall not be found for them.
10I will bring them back from the land of Egypt and gather them out of Assyria. I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon, until there is no room left for them.
11And he shall pass through the sea with affliction, and shall smite the waves in the sea, and all the deeps of the river shall dry up: and the pride of Assyria shall be brought down, and the sceptre of Egypt shall depart away.
11He will pass through the sea of trouble and strike down its waves, and all the depths of the Nile will dry up. The pride of Assyria will be brought low, and the scepter of Egypt will pass away.
12And I will strengthen them in the LORD; and they shall walk up and down in his name, saith the LORD.
12I will make them strong in the LORD, and they will walk about in his name," says the LORD.
11The Two Staffs and Thirty Pieces of Silver
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1Open thy doors, O Lebanon, that the fire may devour thy cedars.
1Open your doors, Lebanon, so that fire can devour your cedars.
2Howl, fir tree; for the cedar is fallen; because the mighty are spoiled: howl, O ye oaks of Bashan; for the forest of the vintage is come down.
2Wail, cypress tree, for the cedar has fallen; the mighty trees are ruined. Wail, oaks of Bashan, for the thick forest has come crashing down.
3There is a voice of the howling of the shepherds; for their glory is spoiled: a voice of the roaring of young lions; for the pride of Jordan is spoiled.
3Listen to the shepherds wailing, for their glory is ruined. Listen to the young lions roaring, for the thickets along the Jordan are laid waste.
4Thus saith the LORD my God; Feed the flock of the slaughter;
4This is what the LORD my God says: "Shepherd the flock that is marked for slaughter.
5Whose possessors slay them, and hold themselves not guilty: and they that sell them say, Blessed be the LORD; for I am rich: and their own shepherds pity them not.
5Those who buy them kill them and feel no guilt. Those who sell them say, 'Praise the LORD, I am rich!' And their own shepherds have no pity on them.
6For I will no more pity the inhabitants of the land, saith the LORD: but, lo, I will deliver the men every one into his neighbour’s hand, and into the hand of his king: and they shall smite the land, and out of their hand I will not deliver them.
6For I will no longer have pity on the people of the land," says the LORD. "Watch: I will hand every one of them over to his neighbor and to his king. They will crush the land, and I will not rescue anyone from their hands."
7And I will feed the flock of slaughter, even you, O poor of the flock. And I took unto me two staves; the one I called Beauty, and the other I called Bands; and I fed the flock.
7So I shepherded the flock marked for slaughter, and especially you, the poor of the flock. I took two staffs; one I named Beauty and the other I named Bands, and I tended the flock.
8Three shepherds also I cut off in one month; and my soul lothed them, and their soul also abhorred me.
8In one month I got rid of three shepherds. I had grown sick of them, and they despised me too.
9Then said I, I will not feed you: that that dieth, let it die; and that that is to be cut off, let it be cut off; and let the rest eat every one the flesh of another.
9Then I said, "I will not be your shepherd any more. Let the dying die and the perishing perish, and let those who are left eat one another's flesh."
10And I took my staff, even Beauty, and cut it asunder, that I might break my covenant which I had made with all the people.
10I took my staff called Beauty and snapped it in two, to break the covenant I had made with all the peoples.
11And it was broken in that day: and so the poor of the flock that waited upon me knew that it was the word of the LORD.
11It was broken that very day, and so the poor of the flock who were watching me knew that this was the word of the LORD.
12And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver.
12Then I said to them, "If you think it right, pay me my wages; if not, keep them." So they weighed out my wages: thirty pieces of silver.
13And the LORD said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD.
13And the LORD said to me, "Throw it to the potter, that handsome price they valued me at!" So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them to the potter in the house of the LORD.
14Then I cut asunder mine other staff, even Bands, that I might break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.
14Then I snapped my second staff, Bands, in two, to break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.
15And the LORD said unto me, Take unto thee yet the instruments of a foolish shepherd.
15The LORD said to me, "Now take up the gear of a foolish shepherd."
16For, lo, I will raise up a shepherd in the land, which shall not visit those that be cut off, neither shall seek the young one, nor heal that that is broken, nor feed that that standeth still: but he shall eat the flesh of the fat, and tear their claws in pieces.
16For I am about to raise up a shepherd in the land who will not care for the lost, or look for the young, or heal the injured, or feed the healthy. Instead he will eat the meat of the fat ones and tear off their hooves.
17Woe to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened.
17Woe to the worthless shepherd who abandons the flock! May the sword strike his arm and his right eye. May his arm wither away completely, and his right eye go totally blind.
12A Cup of Trembling and a Great Mourning
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.
1The weight of the LORD's word about Israel. This is what the LORD says, the one who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of a person inside him:
2Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem.
2"Watch: I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that sets all the surrounding peoples reeling, when they lay siege against both Judah and Jerusalem.
3And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.
3On that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; everyone who tries to lift it will be torn to pieces, even if every nation on earth gathers against it.
4In that day, saith the LORD, I will smite every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness: and I will open mine eyes upon the house of Judah, and will smite every horse of the people with blindness.
4On that day," says the LORD, "I will strike every horse with panic and its rider with madness. I will keep my eyes open over the house of Judah, and I will strike every horse of the peoples with blindness.
5And the governors of Judah shall say in their heart, The inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be my strength in the LORD of hosts their God.
5Then the leaders of Judah will say in their hearts, 'The people of Jerusalem are my strength through the LORD of hosts, their God.'
6In that day will I make the governors of Judah like an hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf; and they shall devour all the people round about, on the right hand and on the left: and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem.
6On that day I will make the leaders of Judah like a fire pan among logs, like a flaming torch in a bundle of grain; they will burn up all the surrounding peoples on the right and on the left, and Jerusalem will once again be lived in, right where it belongs, in Jerusalem.
7The LORD also shall save the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem do not magnify themselves against Judah.
7The LORD will rescue the tents of Judah first, so that the glory of David's house and the glory of the people of Jerusalem will not lift themselves above Judah.
8In that day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the LORD before them.
8On that day the LORD will shield the people of Jerusalem; the weakest among them on that day will be like David, and the house of David will be like God, like the angel of the LORD going ahead of them.
9And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.
9And on that day I will set out to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.
10And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
10I will pour out on the house of David and on the people of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and of pleading for mercy. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him the way someone mourns for an only son, and grieve bitterly for him the way someone grieves for a firstborn.
11In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon.
11On that day the mourning in Jerusalem will be as great as the mourning of Hadad-rimmon in the valley of Megiddo.
12And the land shall mourn, every family apart; the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart;
12The land will mourn, each family by itself: the family of David's house by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of Nathan's house by itself, and their wives by themselves;
13The family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of Shimei apart, and their wives apart;
13the family of Levi's house by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of Shimei by itself, and their wives by themselves;
14All the families that remain, every family apart, and their wives apart.
14and all the families that are left, each family by itself, and their wives by themselves.
13The Fountain Opened and the Shepherd Struck
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.
1"On that day a fountain will be opened for the house of David and for the people of Jerusalem, to wash away sin and uncleanness.
2And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land.
2And on that day," says the LORD of hosts, "I will wipe the names of the idols out of the land, and they will not be remembered anymore. I will also drive the prophets and the unclean spirit out of the land.
3And it shall come to pass, that when any shall yet prophesy, then his father and his mother that begat him shall say unto him, Thou shalt not live; for thou speakest lies in the name of the LORD: and his father and his mother that begat him shall thrust him through when he prophesieth.
3Then if anyone still prophesies, his own father and mother who gave him life will say to him, 'You must not live, because you speak lies in the name of the LORD.' And his own father and mother who gave him life will run him through when he prophesies.
4And it shall come to pass in that day, that the prophets shall be ashamed every one of his vision, when he hath prophesied; neither shall they wear a rough garment to deceive:
4On that day every prophet will be ashamed of his vision when he prophesies, and none of them will put on a rough hairy cloak to fool people.
5But he shall say, I am no prophet, I am an husbandman; for man taught me to keep cattle from my youth.
5Instead he will say, 'I am no prophet; I am a farmer. Someone hired me to tend cattle when I was young.'
6And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.
6And if someone asks him, 'Then what are these wounds on your hands?' he will answer, 'These are the wounds I got in the house of my friends.'
7Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.
7"Wake up, sword, against my shepherd, against the man who stands beside me," says the LORD of hosts. "Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will scatter, and I will turn my hand against the little ones.
8And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.
8And it will happen throughout the whole land," says the LORD, "that two-thirds will be cut off and die, but one-third will be left in it.
9And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.
9I will bring that third through the fire; I will refine them as silver is refined and test them as gold is tested. They will call on my name, and I will answer them. I will say, 'They are my people,' and they will say, 'The LORD is my God.'"
14The Day of the LORD and the Feast of Tabernacles
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee.
1Look, the day of the LORD is coming, when what has been taken from you will be divided up right in your midst.
2For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
2I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem for battle. The city will be captured, the houses looted, and the women violated; half the city will go off into captivity, but the rest of the people will not be cut off from the city.
3Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.
3Then the LORD will go out and fight against those nations, the way he fights on a day of battle.
4And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.
4On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives will split down the middle from east to west, making a very large valley; half the mountain will move north and half of it south.
5And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee.
5You will run for the valley between the mountains, because the valley of the mountains will reach all the way to Azal. Yes, you will run the way you ran from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the LORD my God will come, and all the holy ones with you.
6And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark:
6And on that day there will be no clear light, and no darkness either.
7But it shall be one day which shall be known to the LORD, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light.
7It will be one unique day, known only to the LORD, neither day nor night; but when evening comes, there will be light.
8And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be.
8On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half of it toward the eastern sea and half toward the western sea, in summer and in winter alike.
9And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.
9And the LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name.
10All the land shall be turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem: and it shall be lifted up, and inhabited in her place, from Benjamin’s gate unto the place of the first gate, unto the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananeel unto the king’s winepresses.
10The whole land will be turned into a plain, from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem. But Jerusalem will be raised up and lived in, right where it stands, from the Benjamin Gate to the place of the First Gate, to the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananel to the king's winepresses.
11And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited.
11People will live in it, and there will never again be a curse of destruction; Jerusalem will be lived in safely.
12And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.
12And this is the plague the LORD will strike all the peoples with who fought against Jerusalem: their flesh will rot away while they are still standing on their feet, their eyes will rot away in their sockets, and their tongues will rot away in their mouths.
13And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the LORD shall be among them; and they shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbour, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbour.
13On that day a great panic from the LORD will fall on them; each one will grab his neighbor's hand, and his hand will rise up against his neighbor's hand.
14And Judah also shall fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the heathen round about shall be gathered together, gold, and silver, and apparel, in great abundance.
14Judah, too, will fight at Jerusalem, and the wealth of all the surrounding nations will be gathered up: gold, silver, and clothing in huge amounts.
15And so shall be the plague of the horse, of the mule, of the camel, and of the ass, and of all the beasts that shall be in these tents, as this plague.
15And the same plague will strike the horses, mules, camels, donkeys, and every animal in those camps, just like this plague.
16And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.
16Then everyone who is left from all the nations that came against Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.
17And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.
17And whichever of the families of the earth does not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, on them no rain will fall.
18And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.
18If the family of Egypt does not go up and come, they will get no rain; the plague will fall on them, the one the LORD uses to strike the nations that do not go up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.
19This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.
19This will be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of every nation that does not go up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.
20In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD; and the pots in the LORD’s house shall be like the bowls before the altar.
20On that day the bells on the horses will carry the words HOLY TO THE LORD, and the cooking pots in the LORD's house will be like the bowls in front of the altar.
21Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the LORD of hosts: and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein: and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the LORD of hosts.
21Yes, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah will be holy to the LORD of hosts, and everyone who comes to sacrifice will take one and cook in it. And on that day there will no longer be a trader in the house of the LORD of hosts.